Plans For 2025 World Congress Underway
While at the Eurochambres Congress this spring, it was my honour to be named the first Global Ambassador for the 14th World Chambers Congress to be held in Australia next year. I want to share some of the exciting plans that are underway.
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry co-hosts the 14th WCC at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from September 2nd to 4th, 2025 in partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce – World Chambers Federation (ICC WCF).
A Livable City, A Perfect Host
Melbourne is one of the world’s most livable cities, renowned for its cosmopolitan culture and arts, culinary and social scene. It’s cutting-edge bio tech and med tech sectors, world-leading universities and TAFEs (Technical and Further Education providers) and thriving start-up ecosystem is impressive.
During their visit delegates may also want to visit picturesque gardens and global sporting events like thoroughbred horse-racing’s Melbourne Cup. They take their sport – and coffee – very seriously in Melbourne. Melbourne is the only city in the world to host a Formula One Grand Prix AND a Tennis Grand Slam.
It will be Australian Football League Finals time in early September, and also springtime with temperatures around 20 degrees so it’s a perfect time to visit.
Budget Now for 2025
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays host to the 14th World Chambers Congress
Melbourne, Australia, September 2nd-4th, 2025
Chamber leaders should start budgeting now for this momentous occasion. Canadian chamber leaders have been well represented at World Congresses in the past. 2023’s host was Geneva, 2021 was in Dubai and Quebec City hosted in 2003. Not long ago, the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce won Most Unconventional Initiative Award at the World Chambers Competition, which is always a highlight of each Congress. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is bidding to host the 2027 Congress in Toronto, and are in tight competition with Orlando and Puerto Rico. I am hoping that many Canadian and American chamber leaders will attend the Congress next year in Melbourne. Watch for special congress registration contests from our national associations later this autumn.
Melbourne is a welcoming and multicultural community, with descendants from more than 200 nations. You might also want to bring your family to experience this beautiful part of the world. A short trip in any direction would allow them to experience glorious beaches, charming regional cities, Indigenous rock art sites, majestic mountains, lakes and rivers.
Experience Collaboration
The beauty of Melbourne is that it’s not so much about what you see, it’s about what you experience. They are a relationship state and pride themselves on collaboration – as John Denton, ICC Secretary General says “no problem in the world can be solved without the private sector”. This congress is your opportunity to think outside the box and find new solutions and new partners to solve challenges back home and beyond.
Melbourne is very easy to get around and boasts the largest tram – or light rail – network in the world, as well as trains and buses. Public transport is free in the Central Business District.
The host facility for the Congress is the state-of-the-art Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is located right in the central business district (CBD) with views of the Yarra River. It was the first convention centre in the world to be awarded a six-star green star rating. Their catering is excellent so you can look forward to delicious in-house prepared meals throughout the conference breaks.
At the end of the conference day, the convention centre is ideally located for you to continue on to enjoy an exquisite dinner, theatre show or explore Melbourne’s renowned night life. The hotels are incredible too!
A Dynamic and Very Relevant Congress Agenda
The World Chambers Congress program is currently being designed with outcomes and tangible benefits in mind.
The theme - “Business, Chambers, Government...Partners in Prosperity” – is all about teasing out the opportunities that we all have to grab the megatrends in our economic world and harness them for the benefit of all society.
The commercial world is evolving at a rapid pace – the regulatory and compliance landscape is more complex than ever and 14WCC will explore the themes of energy, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, cyber security, artificial intelligence, trade and export and geopolitical relations. As business leaders, we have a responsibility to lead these conversations.
The ambition is for the 14th WCC to be inclusive of chambers, business and government because a tripartite approach is how we get things done and propel economies forward. Delegates will be informed and motivated by a broad range of ideas, learning from world-class speakers, experts, thought leaders and peers.
The 14th WCC will open doors providing an opportunity for chambers and businesses to build their networks, customers and facilitate growth.
In addition to the conference program, the welcome reception will be held at the stunning Town Hall – also right in the CBD – with the gala dinner proposed for the Crown Casino Palladium which is the most sought-after event space in town.
Mark your calendars and fix your budgets now. It will be THE global business event for 2025!
